Heat pump temperature regulating unit



Sept. 4, 1934. G. WI'LKES HEAT PUMP TEMPERATURE REGULATING UNIT Filed April 7, 1932 IZTI'IIT HII/IHI Sept. 4, 1934. G. WILKES 1,972,811

HEAT PUMP TEMPERATURE REGULATING UNIT Filed April 7. 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 1,972,811 HEAT PUMP TEMPERA I'lURE REGULATING I UNI V Gilbert -Wilkes, Jaeksonwal'd, -Pa., assignor to Wilkes Avery Company, New York, N. Y., a corporatlon of New York Application April 7', 1932, Serial No. 603,887

z2 Claims. (01. 62-129) l This invention relates to new and useful improvements in units for heat pump temperature regulating systems and particularly to units for use in the interior of the building or enclosure to be heated or cooled. I

The principal object-of the invention is to provide a heat pump unit of the character set forth which is of compact, neat construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heat pump unit as set forth which may be used out-of-doors in the event the space internally of the building to be heated,'or other considerations, render an out-door installation more desirable.- 1 1 Another object of the invention is to provide a heat pump unit of the character set forth which may be used out-of-doors and which may have incorporated therein, in a neat, compact assembly, the customary outside heat exchange. unit of the character disclosed in the copending application of Gilbert Wilkes, Ser. No. 598,059, filed March 10, 1932.

Another object of the invention is to. provide a heat pump cabinet as 'set forth which is sound proof and at the same time insulated against the radiation of heat through the walls thereof.

Other features and details of construction embodied in the invention are set forth hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figurel is a longitudinal view in section, vertically through a heat pump cabinet unit;

Fig. 2 is a view in'section on line 2--2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section on line 3-'-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section showing the arrangement and position of the reverse valve piping system in the .cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section disclosing additional details of the reversing valve system and the relationship thereof to the cabine Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the reversible heat pump system;

Fig. 7 is a view in plan showing a modification of the invention; and v Fig. -8 is a front elevation of the disclosure in Fig. 7.

the other thereof so that in the system either unit 2 or 3 may be caused to act as an evaporator and change-over connections are shown as effected by branch piping 4 and control valves 5. The I remaining terminals of units 2 and 3 are connected with one another through a conduit 6 including trap means 7,for preventing transfer of gas fromeither of the units 2 .or 3 to the other thereof while permitting the transfer'of liquid therebetween.

A system of this character is controlled by placing the evaporator-condenser unit 3 at a point. where it is subjected to the outside atmosphere while placing the evaporator-condenser. unit 2 in an air circulation system.

In order that the coil 2 may offer a maximum efficiency in heat transfer and at the same time be so constructed that it may be readily flooded in those periods when it-is acting as a cooling coil, this coil is preferably formed in a plurality of banks 2a, 2b and 2c, of which the primary sections of those sections which are connected directly to the trap are separated from the ultimate section 2c by liquid seals or check valves 8, there being connections 9 and 10 between the upper ends and lower ends of the banks with the seals 8 disposed in these connections between the ultimate coil and the next adjacent coil. A by-- pass connection 11 connects the connections 9 between the lower end of bank 2c and the upper end of the next adjacent bank with the result that gases passing through the coil 20 may pass upwardly to the upper connection 9 and thus reach coils 2a and 2b. Any liquid which condenses in coil 2c during the period when the coil 2 is operating as a condenser, may pass through liquid seal 8 of the lower connection 10. These seals will not, however, interfere with complete flooding of the banks when the coil 2a is operating as an evaporator. The banks 2a and 2b are so disposed that the air circulated through the casing is initially passed "into contact with said tubes with the result that the cool air is, in banks 2a and 2b, warmed prior to its contact with the superheated zone as represented by the bank.2c. This arrangement of the banks 2a and 2b effects a counterflow of the circulatingair with respect to the super-heated gas, the saturated gas, and the humidifying spray, affording a maximum heat exchange from the bank 2 and the circulating air.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a compact heat pump unit to house the aforementionedsystem and made in accordance with the present invention comprises a cabinet 12 having a base, and side and end walls 13 and 14 respectively. The cabinet is further provided with a cover member comprising the horizontal portion 15 and an obliquely disposed portion 15a, the latter joining at its lower edge with one wall 16 of a vertical air stack 17. The opposite wall 16a of the stack 17 extends vertically upward from the upper edge of the adjacent end wall 14 of the cabinet. Centrally 10- rated in the horizontal portion 15 of the cabinet cover is a discharge port 18. For the purpose of providing a unit of high thermal efiiciency which is substantially sound proof, the side and end walls 13 and 14 respectively of the cabinet and the portions 15 and 15a of the cover thereof, are lined as indicated at 19, with suitable insulating material adapted to effect a cabinet having the aforementioned desirable qualities.

The bank of heat transfer tubes 2 constituting ihe heat exchange unit for the purpose of concensin g vapors in the winter time to heat air tircuiating in a building, are disposed in the veriical air stack 17 in the manner disclosed in figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the said bank in the present instance comprising parallel banks of tubes 2a and 2b respectively, the said tubes being positioned one above the other and disposed at a relatively small angle with respect to the plane of the base of the cabinet 1. The bank of tubes 20 are disposed below the banks 2a and 27b in a corresponding relative position. Each of the thermal exchange tubes is preferably provided with a plurality of air fins 20 in order that the thermal efficiency of the heat transfer may assume a maximum value. A drip pan 21 is mounted internally of the cabinet below the aforementioned heat transfer tubes.

The compressor 1, a blower 22 and a. driving motor 23 are mounted internally of the cabinet 12, and in the arrangement at present shown in Fig.1 of the drawings, the motor 23 substantially vertically underlies the blower 22, the discharge port of which is connected to the aforementioned discharge port 18 in the portion 15 of the cabinet.

The driving motor 23 is mounted for movement toward and away from the compressor 1, and is controlled in these movements in any suitable manner as, for example, by the control motor 24. The blower 22 comprises the usual casing 25 and fan shaft 26, the casing of the blower being supported on studs 27 for movement toward and away from the motor 23, the springs 28 yieldably urging the blower away from themotor. The compressor 1 and the blower 22 in the present instance are each driven by the motor 23 by means ofbelts'29 and 30.

The reverse or changeover valve system disclosed inZFig. 4, and an electric control panel, not shown, are mounted in the cabinet -12 at the opposite end thereof from the air stack inlet 17, and are partitioned fromxthe. remainder of. the apparatus within the cabinet by the struc-- tural members 31 and 32. The function of the reverse valve system and the electrical control panel mentioned above and their relation to the heat pump temperature regulating apparatus is set forth in detail above.

The heat pump temperature regulating apparatus is further provided with an economizer 33 principally adaptable to the compression cycle to reduce the temperature of the liquid refrigerant. In the present instance the economizer 33 is arranged to absorb heat from the pipe 6 and is connected at oneend to a water supply, and at its other end to a cooling spray 34, the flow of water from the supply through the economizer 33 and the spray 34 being controlled by a humidistat or other device 35.

In the normal operation of the compression heat pump during the winter months, the vapor to the condenser liquefies at 100 F. and it is difficult to remove an appreciable quantity of heat from the condensed liquid by means of the cool air. In zero weather for instance, this 100 F. liquid carries its sensible heat to the outside atmosphere, thus wasting the heat above zero. In cold weather the compressor suction will be approximately 20 lower than the outside temperature. It is possible to remove the sensible heat of the liquid before trap 7 by means of the compressor suction vapor. This would superheat the gases going to the compressor and would reduce appreciably thereby the operating efliciency of the compressor. The construction shown on the drawings is preferred, particularly in cabinets using single stage compressors. The particular arrangement of the heat exchanger or economizer 33 as disclosed in Fig. 6 of the drawings, insures a spray of chilled water for summer operation which assumes approximately the temperature conditions existing within the condenser functioning as an evaporator. The spray of water connected thereto functions to wash the air and increase to a considerable extent the heat transfer of the tubes by constituting a. large number of drops of water on these tubes in intimatecontact with the air to be chilled. The particular arrangement of the economizer 33 effects the saving of heat in a heat unit by reducing the temperature of the liquid refrigerant, before passing through the reversible trap '7.

In operation of the unit, return air from the house enters the air stack 17 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 passing through a dry air cooling filter 36 and the spray 34 for the purpose of being substantially undercooled in order that the most efficient heat transfer may be maintained by the counterflow of the air through the heat exchange tube bank 2. It-should be noted that in heat pump temperature regulating apparatus of the present character, it is important to first pass the return air through a dry air filter 36 for the purpose of preventing fouling of the surface or equipment, and to subsequently pass the air through the spray 34 which is directed on the saturated zone of the condenser for the purpose of cooling said air and said condenser, the air subsequently absorbing the mechanical heat loss .amount of moisture at all times, regardless of the temperature of the incoming air, The air so drawn inwardly of the air stack 17 passes over the compressor 1, the driving motor 23, and the control motor 24, and is drawn into the blower 22" and discharged through the port 18, in the direction. of the arrow in Fig. 1 into the living quarters or other rooms of the building. Itshould be noted that the particular arrangement of the cabinet 11 and the apparatus contained therein permits ventilation and cooling of the blower and the motors incident to the ordinary operation of the unit. This particular arrangementof the apparatus within the cabinet 11 is desirable, since during cooling dehumidification periods, it is necessary to undercool the air to approximately 55" F. to remove the excess moisture. The air must be subsequently reheated reheated to approximately the desired temper-' ature, making the positioning of the mechanical equipment rearwardly of the condenser evaporator equally as important in the summer cycle as in the winter cycle.

t is obvious that certain conditions and considerations may arise which render an outdoor installation of a unit similar to that described herein preferable, and this may be accomplished by a simple rearrangement of the heat transfer bank 2 and a repositioning of the air inlet stack 17, in order "that a compact, neat'constructlon may be effected, and the usual outside heat exchange unit designated generally as at 37, forming the subject of the copending application of Gilbert Wilkes, Ser. No. 598,059, filed March 10, a 1932, and the motor 38 and fan 39 for securing a. forced draft inwardly of the port 40 on that exchange and outwardly of the port 41 may be incorporated within the unit which is the subject of the present application. In the present modification the bank of heat transfer bank 2 and the air stack 1'7 are positioned substantially parallel to the compressor 1 and the driving motor 23, in such a manner that the tubes of the heat transfer bank 2 are disposed vertically with respect to the base of the cabinet and the passage of air inwardly of the air stack 17 is in a substantially horizontal direction.

In the operation, the diagrammatic connections of the equipment are substantially, the same as herein set forth and the air passing inwardly of the air stack 17 passes through the air filter 36, the humidification water'spray 34, the heat exchange tubes 2, and passes downwardly over the blower 22 and the driving and control motors 23 and 24 respectively and is summarily discharged by the blower 22 through the'discharge port in the cabinet, back into the building. While a particular embodiment of the invention is set forth'for the purpose of description, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be made in the detailed construction and features of the unit within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: V

1. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing, the said casing being insulated against radiation of heat and sound therethrough and having a stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, a bank of heat transfer tubes in said stack-inlet, a compressor in said casing, and means in the casingand operatively associated with said heat transfer bank, effecting operation thereof as an evaporator or condenser as desired.

2. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing, the said casing evaporator or condenser as desired.

3. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having a stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other,'a

bank of heat transfer tubes in said inlet, a compressor in said casing, an operating motor therefor, a blower in the casing having its outlet in sealed communication with the outlet of the casing and its inlet in free communication with the interior of said casing, and means in the casing operatively connected with the heat transfer bank, permitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator as desired.

4. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having a stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, a

bank of heat transfer tubes in said inlet, a com-' pressor in said casing, an operating motor therefor,.a blower in the casing having its outlet in sealed communication with the outlet of the casing and its inlet in free communication with the interior of said casing, and a change-over valve system operatively connected with the heat transfer bank permitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator as desired.

5. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating. apparatus, comprising a' casing having an air stack inlet at one end and anoutlet at the other, a bank of heat transfer tubes in said stack inlet, arranged in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air through said stack, and means in said casing operatively associated with the heat transfer bank effecting operation thereof as an evaporator or condenser as desired.

6. A unit for heat pump temperature regulat-' ing apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other;

a dry air filter, a cooling spray, and a bank of heat transfer tubes in said stack inlet arranged in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air therethrough; and means in said casing operatively associated with the heat transfer bank effecting operation thereof as an evaporator or condenser as desired, Q s

"l. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus, comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other; a dry air filter, a cooling spray, and a bank of heat transfer tubes in said stack inlet, successively arranged in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of air therethrough; a compressor in the casing; and an operating motor therefor, the said compressor and the motor being positioned in said casing in such a manner that the air passing therethrough may absorb heat from said motor and compressor resulting in the relative cooling of the motor and the-compressor.

8. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus, comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, a bank of heat transfer tubes in said stack inlet, arrangedin counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air'throughsaid stack, and a change-over valve system operatively associated with the heat transfer bank effecting operation thereof as an evaporator or condenser as desired.

9. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at oneend and an outlet at the other,

a bank of heat transfer tubes in said stack inlet arranged in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air through the stack, a compressor in the casing, and an operating motor therefor, the said compressor and the motor being positioned in the casing in such a manner as to be cooled by the normal passage of air through said casing.

10. A unit for heat pump temperature regulat- 'outlet in sealed communication with the outlet of the casing and its inlet in free communication with the interior of said casing.

11. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and a superheat section, the said sections being arranged in the stack inlet in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air through said stack inlet, and means in the casing operatively connected with the coil permitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator as desired.

12. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and a superheat section, the said sections being arranged in the stack inlet in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air through said stack inlet, a compressor in the casing, and an operating motor therefor, and means in the casing operatively connected with the coil permitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator as desired.

- 13. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other; a dry air filter, a cooling spray, and an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and a superheat section in the stack inlet successively arranged in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of air therethrough; a compressor in the casing, an operating motor therefor; and means in. the casing operatively connected with the coil pemiitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator, as desired.

14. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus, comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other; a dry air filter, a cooling spray, and an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and a superheat section in the, stack inlet successivelyarranged in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of air therethrough; a compressor in the casing, and an operating motor therefor; the said compressor and motor being positioned in the casing in such a manner that the air passed therethrough may absorb heat from the motor and compressor resulting in the relative cooling of the motor and the compressor.

15f A unit for heat pump temperatiireregulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and superheat section, the said sections being arranged'in the stack inlet in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of or evaporator as desired.

16. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and superheat section, the said sections being arranged in the stack inlet in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air through said stack inlet, a compressor in the casing, an operating motor therefor, the said compressor and motor being positioned in the casing in such a manner as to be cooled by the normal passage of air through said casing, and a change-over valve system operatively connected with the coil permitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator as desired.

1'7. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air stack inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and superheat section, the

said sections being arranged in the stack inlet in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of the air through said stack inlet, a compressor in the casing, an operating motor therefor, the said compressor and motor being positioned in the casing in such a. manner as to be cooled by the normal passage of air through said casing, a blower in said casing driven by the operating motor having its outlet in sealed communication with the outlet of the casing, and its inlet in free communication with the interior of said casing, and a change-over valve system operatively connected with the coil, permitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator as desired.

18. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an internal unit therein comprising an air stack inlet and an outlet, an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of bank heat transfer tubes arranged in the stack inlet in counterfiow relation with respect to the travel of air therethrough, a compressor in the casing, an operating motor therefor and an external unit having an inlet and an outlet, heat transfer tubes arranged in said inlet, a motor and a fan, the said fan effecting a forced draft inwardly of the inlet and outwardly of the outlet.

, 19. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing, having an air stack inlet at one end and .an outlet at the other; a cooling spray and an evaporator condenser coil comprising a plurality of banks of heat transfer tubes constituting a primary and a superheat section successively arranged in the stack inlet in counterflow relation with respect to the travel of air therethrough, the said spray being connected and drawing liquid from an economizer, embracing and drawing heat from the compression side of the condenser, evaporator coil, for the purpose of cooling the refrigerant therein, and relatively warming the liquid to be discharged by the spray; and means in the casing operatively connected with the coil permitting operation thereof as a condenser or evaporator as desired.

20. A unit for heat pump temperature regulating apparatus comprising a casing having an air inlet at one end and an outlet at the otherra cooling or humidifying spray and an evaporator condenser coil constituting a primary and a superheat section successively arranged in the inlet in counterflow relation, with respect to the travel of air therethru; a trap or liquid expansion valve receiving the liquid from the condenser, and a heat exchanger comprising a liquid and a vapor space preheating the gases going to thecompressor by means of the sensible heat of the liquid before its passage to the trap.

21. An apparatus for heating in combination with humidification by means of a reversible heat pump comprising a compressor, two evaporator condensers reversibly connected to said compressor, a humidification spray directed on the saturated zone of one of the evaporator condensers, and means for circulating air to be heated through said humidification spray, the superheated zone of said evaporator condenser and over the mechanical equipment of the heat pump, in the order named.

22. An apparatus for cooling in combination with dehumidification, by means of a reversible heat pump comprising a compressor, two evaporator condensers reversibly connected. to said compressor, means for operating the evaporator condensers at a constant temperature, and means for circulating air through said evaporator condensers to secure dehumidification and then over the mechanical equipment to secure proper preheating of the air.

GILBERT WILKES. 

